Page 54 of Covert Temptation

“At the base, I hit the gym or go for a run.”

“Then go for a run.”

He met her stare.

“You have running shoes in your bag, I assume?”

He nodded. Running had been his outlet since he could remember. He couldn’t outrun foster care, but he could find his own rhythm in the world.

Except he didn’t like leaving Kennedy. She’d given her word she wouldn’t leave, and he believed her. But he was the only thing between her and any danger that might come.

She moved to his duffel bag and dropped to her knees to unzip it. Without asking permission to root through his belongings, she rummaged in the bottom of the bag until she located his shoes. Crossing the room to him, she held them out.

“Kennedy…”

“You left to get pizza. I was fine then.”

He searched her face. Her eyes were wide and expressive, filled with understanding. This woman knew what it felt like to need escape. And her giving him this—a way to calm down andclear his head—was probably the best gift he’d ever received in his life.

She thrust the shoes into his hand. “Go for your run, Dante. I’ll be here.”

“You’re sure?”

“Positive.”

He gripped her waist, pulling her a step closer so he could stamp a kiss on her surprised lips. “I won’t go far. I’ll stick to the main road, and then I can see anyone approaching the safe house. Not that many pass in this remote stretch of the valley.”

She rested her palm on his chest, her face tilted to his. Her lips were too tempting not to take a second time. When he drew away, she wrapped her arms around herself again.

“I know how it feels to be trapped. Left behind.”

Her words hit harder than he expected, drawing a line connecting their pain. His chest tightened. He wasn’t trapped—not exactly, not the way she meant it—but the weight of it all pressed in just the same. Defeat curled in his gut, heavy and familiar.

The words to express this wouldn’t come to him, so he just reached out and cupped her face.

She stood frozen for a moment, then after a heartbeat, she walked out of the bedroom.

He quickly slipped on a hoodie and his running shoes. As he tied the laces, another thought came to him. He had to make sure she wasn’t afraid while he was gone.

When he walked out, he found Kennedy in the kitchen, filling the coffeemaker as if she needed something to do with her hands.

Closing the gap between them, he took her in his arms, cradling her head against his chest. “I’ll be back long beforedark. Here’s my phone. You can always make an emergency call without my passcode.”

She took the phone from him with a smile that was a little too bright, a little too brittle.

He started to say something, but she placed a finger over his lips. “Shh.”

His lips quirked under her finger.

“You look so hot in that gray shirt and your running shoes.”

“Now I know you’re definitely sexualizing me. I don’t know how I feel about that.”

She arched a shapely brow at him. “You love it and you know it. Now go for your run, SEAL.” She stepped out of his arms, clasping the phone to her chest.

He leveled her in a look. “Do not take off, Runway Rebel. I will hunt you down and find you.”

She shot out a hand, little finger up. “Pinky promise.”

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